A 14-page plan outlined a multi-decade
vision to turn Team Dragon, currently ranked 81 in the world by FIFA, into an elite team. To do so, China plans to build
70,000 football fields by 2020, giving access to more than 50 million Chinese people to play football on a regular
basis.

The government will also support more than 20,000
schools to specialize in football education. This means more than 30 million young students in elementary
schools and middle schools across China will get systematic football education and training.

The plan says, by 2030, there will be a
football field for every 10,000 Chinese people. The football industry is also intended to be a key growth
engine for China’s overall sports sector.

Enterprises will also play an important
role in boosting China’s football sector. The plan says enterprises shall create two to three football clubs, which
could become Asia’s leading and even globally renowned professional clubs.And qualified football clubs are
encouraged to register in order to access more funding in the future.

Experts say the plan provides a more
precise timeline and specific targets for developing China’s football industry. But the implementation of the plan will
also be very important.